The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 495: So Hand It Over, Then (2)

With my steps feeling noticeably lighter, I descended the stairs. The corset was a pain, sure, but the veil had been heavy too. Each time I set down a foot, the gazes tracked along with me. Emotions mixed in those eyes, but it was hard to find even a single look that belittled me.

Should I thank Chatterbox for that? Still, this atmosphere wasn’t purely my own power. Well, I’m the one who leveraged a transcendent to create this situation— which, frankly, can be called a kind of human capability too.

Gathering S–ranks around me is my ability as well. Most people simply can’t imagine I’m the one moving proactively.

Tap, I stepped off the last stair— and beyond the still–open doors, a small silver dragon appeared. Fluttering its thin, glittering wings, the Changeling flew to me and perched on my shoulder. For the mood, Gyeol had shifted her scale color to a cool silver today. Still cute. Instead of speaking, Gyeol nuzzled her head affectionately along my neck and cheek.

“You’re awfully quiet, everyone. You must have many questions.”

I tossed the mask and the fern fronds in my hand, just any which way. Hunters near the rolling mask reflexively backed off. It’s an ordinary mask. For high–rank Hunters, your nerves seem delicate. Rubbing a finger under Gyeol’s jaw, I walked on. One, two— to the Hunters who stepped aside, I offered a grateful smile.

“Since today’s the first day, please relax and enjoy yourselves.”

I met the eyes of a Hunter whose reaction to me differed from the rest. He slid his gaze away. He’d only smiled at the Chatterbox costume— which likely meant he hadn’t met Chatterbox in person and had only received an invitation and signed a contract.

Let’s see, was he German? Full video analysis will take time, so maybe I should prod that one. For now, I turned back to the Hunters around me. No one stepped up boldly yet.

‘Park Hayul really isn’t here, right.’

It felt risky to switch on Fear Resistance in this crowd. But if I kept it on, who knew what trick Park Hayul’s skill might pull. He did say he’d remove the effect, but how do I— trust… trust him. Damn mental–type skills. Anyway, that’s why entry required identity verification via the contract.

There were quite a few A–ranks who didn’t enter the main hall— likely Hunters with faked identities beyond Park Hayul. B–rank and below were barred outright. In other words, the A–ranks admitted here could be tentatively struck from the suspect list.

“What was that aura just now, exactly?”

One Hunter asked with notable politeness.

“Judging by the faces, even the S–ranks around Director Han were wholly unaware.”

“It’s something I received personally.”

The questioning Hunter looked surprised but didn’t press. This is why I didn’t tell anyone else that I’d amplified Chatterbox’s mark. If Yuhyun, Yerim, Hyun–ah, Chief Song— even Seong Hyunjae— showed no particular response, then of course the surrounding S–ranks would assume those S–ranks had obtained the mark for me.

Like seeing a puppy show up wearing a diamond collar— naturally, you think the owner put it on. In their common sense, an F–rank shouldn’t be capable of such a thing.

“Consider it, hm, a sign of attention. The owner of this sigil treats me particularly special.”

Not a lie. He tried to catch and kill me, and now he’d like to catch and preserve me. Of course, my expression and tone said I’m receiving a hearty dose of favorable attention.

“There were exchanges, too. You could call us friends of a friend.”

If he’s the King of Harmless, I’ll treat him like a friend. If Chatterbox harms no one and holds a normal funeral for me and mine, I’ll even go and pay condolence money.

“I can’t go into detail, but if your curiosity burns, contact me privately.”

Once one person opened their mouth, others unstiffened and started speaking too. The caution lasted only a moment; as soon as it became clear the sigil wasn’t my own power, I caught plenty of oh, of course faces. Conversely, some took seriously the fact that I, on my own, had cut a deal with someone dangerous.

“If you call people here and then spring a sudden threat, shouldn’t you start with an apology.”

Maybe because the mood had eased, a complaint popped out. Canada, was it? I’d wanted invitations spread as evenly as possible, but S–ranks who could make it here mostly came from developed countries. Relatively weaker nations lost S–ranks and, moreover, had environments too harsh to leave unattended for long. If your Hunter system isn’t stable, managing your own dungeons barely leaves room for overseas trips.

So the Hunters present were from societies stable to a degree, with enough S–ranks that several could step away without issue. Unfairly so. Those who have get more— before or after dungeons, the reality hadn’t changed.

“Ah… I didn’t realize.”

I looked at the Canadian Hunter with deep, apologetic sincerity.

“I made you feel threatened, did I. I thought S–ranks wouldn’t mind. I sincerely apologize. Anyone else needs an apology?”

Anyone? I waved a hand, but of course nobody stepped up. What S–rank on earth would say, I got spooked by an F–rank. Instead of demanding an apology from me, faint snickers leaked; the Canadian Hunter’s nape flushed.

“I mean, I, obviously, wasn’t bothered.”

“Of course not. Then why pick at me, Mr. Phil Otis. Ah— unless.”

I gave him a gentle smile.

“Were you truly scared? Even before your awakening. Phil Otis, Canada’s hockey player. No— expelled ex–hockey player.”

I’d busted my butt memorizing faces and profiles for all attending S–ranks. I should thank Seong Hyunjae for the intel… well, it was a trade. Still, thanks anyway.

“You little—”

Mr. Otis’s face shifted from shame to anger. At the same time, the mood among the surrounding S–ranks cooled. They went still, breath quiet, eyes blazing— like predators who’d scented prey.

None sided with Phil Otis, and none protested me on his behalf. Most S–rank Hunters were intensely individualistic. They almost never helped another S–rank. If anything, when one of their kind faltered, they stood by and watched.

Then the instant a sure weak point showed, they lunged and tore out the throat.

They were like solitary big cats, not pack animals. To them, an S–rank was a competitor— almost an enemy who could threaten them at any time. If there was a chance to topple one, you sank your teeth in without hesitation.

“…”

Knowing that atmosphere, Otis didn’t move rashly. He could become the second French Hunter— or worse. The Frenchman had few witnesses and could retreat quickly to patch things; here, not so.

And he couldn’t even claim the excuse of being an A–rank boosted by an S–rank— he was facing a mere F–rank in raw stats.

‘In this place, I really am weak.’

But precisely for that reason, the risk was greater for him. An S–rank pressing an F–rank is normal; the opposite is disgrace.

I sorted through the data on Phil Otis in my head. As you can see— a hot head. Rash. Thanks to that, more of his abilities were known than most— he’d spray skills heedless of prying eyes. He’d hassled non–awakened civilians multiple times. Hm— perfect.

“Still, how very good of you.”

I continued, eyes brimming with fond condescension.

“You can sit there and behave. You’ve grown a lot, Mr. Shy Boy.”

Shy Boy— the nickname he got after claiming that when he was a hulking hockey player, he used violence on a crush half his size because he was just too embarrassed and scared at being rejected. What a dog of an excuse. Shy Puck would’ve fit better.

Grind— I heard his teeth. Charging an F–rank in a temper would be ridiculous, but slinking away would draw more ridicule. So he snapped his hidden item forward— and lunged at me.

Thud— a foot hammered the floor. Thanks to Terrifying Chick Class Teacher, the motion struck into my sight one by one— through the cameras and monitors, via Noah’s eyes in the surveillance room. For an S–rank, he wasn’t particularly fast. Naturally. Killing me would only make things worse.

Keep it light— enough to swat a stat F–rank, non–awakened–level opponent and send him tumbling. And a habit of charging straight on. Thanks to that, my dungeon item fired on time, at the exact spot.

Shhrrip— a spiderweb–fine net spread across my front. An item Yu Myungwoo had made. A high–rank Hunter could slip it without much trouble— but Shy Boy was holding back his strength as much as possible. Thus—

“Urk, what the hell!”

The bear of a Shy Boy froze where he was, wrapped head to toe in webbing. Seizing the moment with his feet caught, I drew a pistol. No time to charge it long. But I didn’t need to blow his head off— just bang!

And tap! The magic round smacked his forehead precisely. It left only a small reddening— but the sound, the sting— a classic flick to the forehead. Snickers burst here and there. While Shy Boy stood dumbstruck, I twirled the pistol in a lazy circle and slid it back into my inventory.

“Don’t pick fights with grownups, kid.”

Laughter spilled out, unrestrained now. Shy Boy snarled, drew a dagger, and cut free of the web clinging to his body. And even without Noah’s signal, he quickly traced an X with his fingers. Likely no connection to Chatterbox. In that case— fine.

“Removal.”

“Removal!”

Just before Shy Boy could lunge again, Yerim appeared. She splashed her non–alcoholic, minors–only champagne across the floor— and Shy Boy stepped on it and skidded. Yerim’s liquid–freeze speed seems faster now. Of course, he was still an S–rank— even rotten fish are still fish— and he recovered his balance quickly, but Yerim wasn’t here to watch.

She dropped low in a blink, planted both hands and one foot, and whipped a kick at Shy Boy’s ankle. Even if she was also S–rank, Yerim was disadvantaged in both combat type and build. But her kick, powered by both hands bracing, slammed into an ankle that had only just found balance—

Thwack! Unable to hold, Shy Boy lurched hard. Yerim immediately planted only her hands and, like a handstand, sprang for his jaw.

“Ghk!”

Both feet drummed straight up under his chin. Shy Boy’s body flew backward; Yerim turned a clean somersault and landed light. Wow— our Yerim’s close–quarters technique has really improved. In the past, her melee strings sometimes cut off; now they flow.

Watching Hunters parted fast, and Shy Boy went sailing unimpeded, skidding far.

“You can’t draw weapons. Please head quietly outside~”

At Yerim’s words, Shy Boy sprang up, huffing.

“He drew first!”

“Come on now, Mr. Shy Boy.”

I clicked my tongue, purely disappointed.

“Do you want to be treated equal to a stat F–rank? Obviously I’m the exception. If the rules applied, I couldn’t even be here.”

A–rank and below were barred. Rubbing under his chin with the back of his hand, Shy Boy gauged the mood. He’d embarrassed himself enough; best to retreat now— but he clearly wanted to salvage his face. Or maybe he thought Yerim was easy prey. If he pressed down an S–rank, he might claw back some standing— he glared at Yerim.

“The exit is the other way.”

Yuhyun spoke flatly.

“No—”

“The other way.”

A brief silence fell between Yuhyun and Shy Boy. Call it a battle of wills— but only Shy Boy was straining; Yuhyun looked neither more nor less than dutiful. His expression said, it’s burnable–trash day, let’s put it out.

In the end, Shy Boy turned around. He vanished through the door, and those remaining withdrew their attention as if nothing had happened. Still, after this, Phil Otis— and his guild— would find themselves deflated on several fronts.

‘Korea really is peculiar in many ways.’

Chief Song’s existence loomed large. Ordinarily, unless you forced a rigid hierarchy like the Chinese military, S–ranks stayed individual. In Korea too, the axis was Song Taewon. Yuhyun had virtually no interaction with other S–ranks, but he had to interact with Chief Song at least as a matter of duty. Even if Hyun–ah was unusually social and knew many Hunters abroad, before my regression the only S–rank we saw often was Chief Song. Seong Hyunjae came as Chief Song’s add–on.

As for Seong Hyunjae— say no more. What good are many S–rank acquaintances, when even his guildmember Ms. Evelyn’s vibe is please pretend we’re strangers in private. Chief Song is the reason he’s admitted at all.

‘And me, well…’

Now, my influence is sizable too. It’s embarrassing to say it myself— but facts are facts. Nowhere else do S–rank Hunters mingle as well as around me.

Yerim flicked me a look to ask, are you okay, then left. She wanted to stick close, but not today, not here.

“I heard you plan to produce firearms. Is that a prototype?”

“Yes, in a manner of speaking. It should be useful for lower–rank Hunters.”

Mine’s good enough even for S–ranks. Still, the charge time makes it tricky in real combat. Thanks to Shy Boy’s very public comeuppance, no one else came to pick a fight. Instead, I fielded various questions— mostly about Monster Mounts— and,

“You must be miffed with the Sesung Guildmaster.”

—random weird ones like that. Why even ask me that. He even looked like he… felt a sort of kinship. Hm… was he dumped once too? No— according to Seong Hyunjae, he merely lost interest.

“It happens. Don’t take it to heart.”

“Ah… y–yes…”

Another Hunter chimed in. Damn you, Seong Hyunjae— why am I hearing this nonsense. At least in Korea, only Chief Song suffered; for Yuhyun and Hyun–ah it was just a brief nuisance, nothing more. Mr. Noah too, and Ms. Soyeong— not dragons, so they didn’t care. …Seok Gimyeong seems to be nursing a grudge, though.

“Please open international shipping for Dodam merchandise.”

“Pardon? Ah, yes.”

Ever since we started selling Breeding Facility goods, I hear at least one related comment anywhere I go. Next came a question about how Peace became able to manifest as incorporeal.

“It’s likely because he originally had a Gigantification skill.”

That’s what I answered, though I don’t know the exact reason. Other than, Peace wanted that skill.

The hall’s mood was quite good. Mr. Noah and Haeyeon’s high–rank Hunters analyzed the video diligently and checked with me now and then— through Mr. Noah’s eyes, of course. Distance was a limitation, but Terrifying Chick Class Teacher could be leveraged this way too. Convenient. If only I could rename the skill, it’d be perfect.

Hunters with nothing to ask didn’t come close; they mingled at a distance with their guildmates and acquaintances. Everyone being high–rank, ordinary conversation carried clearly even if voices weren’t lowered.

‘Those presumed to have contacted Chatterbox aren’t approaching at all.’

Are they wary? I still couldn’t identify Park Hayul’s side. Chloe was sipping wine quietly by herself. Should I go to Chloe— or. I turned toward the table where Seong Hyunjae sat. Through the gaps of people, I glimpsed him. The moment I looked, several people parted right away. Curious gazes poured in.

‘Oh, come on.’

What do you expect from me. The table where Seong Hyunjae sat lay open before me; Chief Song shook his head at me quickly. It was practically a plea— please don’t. Hyun–ah, on the other hand, beamed with a mix of anticipation.

“I’m on Director Han Yujin’s side.”

…Who just whispered that. And what are you going to do with that allegiance. Seong Hyunjae, lazily turning his wine glass, met my eyes. Then he smiled— dazzlingly. He really was handsome— like a gorgeous toadstool. No— a viper suited him better. Best to avoid. I started to turn toward Chloe instead—

“Director Han Yujin.”

Seong Hyunjae called to me. Ah, no thanks. Liette, when are you getting here. Is it still a while…?